Front feed apparatus for bookkeeping machines



Oct. 12, 1965 F. E. HOLLADAY ETAL 3,211,272

FRONT FEED APPARATUS FOR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES Original Filed June 12. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FORREST E. HOLLADAX NEAL R. ROBBINS. BY

x kpw wa' AT TORNEX Oct. 12, 1965 F. E. HOLLADAY ETAL 3,211,272

FRONT FEED APPARATUS FOR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 12. 1961 INVENTORS. FORREST E. HOLLADA). NEAL R. ROBBINS.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 12, 1965 F. E. HOLLADAY ETAL 3,211,272

FRONT FEED APPARATUS FOR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 12. 1961 INVENTORS FORREST E. HOLLADAY NEAL R. ROBBINS.

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ATTORNEY.

Oct. 12, 1965 F. E. HOLLADAY ETAL 3,211,272

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Oct. 12, 1965 F. E. HOLLADAY ETAL 3,211,272

FRONT FEED APPARATUS FUR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES Original Filed June 12. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 9;

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INVENTORS.

FORREST E. HOLLAD/W NEAL R. ROBBINS.

1965 F. E. HOLLADAY ETAL 3,

FRONT FEED APPARATUS FOR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES Original Filed June 12, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 11.

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INVENTORS United States Patent 3 211,272 FRONT FEED APPAIiATUS FOR BOOKKEEPING MACHINES Forrest E. Holladay, Plymouth, and Neal R. Robbins, Ypsilanti, Mich., assignors to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Continuation of application Ser. No. 116,434, June 12, 1961. This application Dec. 16, 196.4, Ser. No. 423,625 15 Claims. (Cl. 197127) This invention relates to a front feed apparatus for bookkeeping or typewriting machines and, more particularly to a mechanical sheet positioning apparatus therefor.

This application is a continuation of our pending application entitled, Front Feed Apparatus For Bookkeeping Accounting Machines, Serial No. 116,434, filed June 12, 1961, now abandoned.

It is an object of this invention to provide for bookkeeping machines a front feed apparatus having a normally operable motor-driven paper feed mechanism.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a fast aligning front feed apparatus having a normally operable sheet feed mechanism to feed a record sheet into a normally open carriage.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved mechanical line find mechanism operable in the presence or absence of a perforation on a sheet to effect an accurate registration of the sheet in a print position relative to the last line previously printed.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a perforation sensing mechanism normally maintained beyond the sheet path and energized upon introduction of a sheet into the sheet guide path.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved sensing mechanism which positions a blank record sheet in response to the passage of its trailing edge in a manner which affords the least possible resistance to the passage of the sheet.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a complete line finding and record punching sequence for a sheet processed in a bookkeeping machine in response to carriage closing and intermediate spacing operations.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof described hereinafter. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a right side elevation of the front feed apparatus as mounted on the carriage of a bookkeeping machine;

FIG. 1A is a view with a portion of the side frame broken away, showing the means for inhibiting the drive means for the front feed apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bookkeeping machine and the drive mechanism for the front feed apparatus;

FIG. 2A is a plan view showing the front feed apparatus enabling mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the front feed apparatus with parts broken away and showing the detail of the front feed apparatus structure and the arrangement of its parts;

FIG. 4 is a detail drawing of one form of the sensing mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a detail drawing of an alternate embodiment of the sensing mechanism;

BIG. 6 is a view of the punch mechanism in its inactive or non-punching position;

FIG. 7 is a view of the punch mechanism in its active or punching position;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the electrical control system for the front feed apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 4

3,211,272 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 with certain parts omitted to illustrate details of the struction;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 5 with certain parts omitted to illustrate details of the modification;

FIG. 11 is an end view of FIG. 5, looking from right 'to left thereof; and

FIGS. 12 and 13 are fragmentary views of a record sheet.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a bookkeeping machine of the type shown and described in US. Patent 2,629,549, Automatic Function Control Mechanism for Accounting Machines, issued to T. M. Butler on February 24, 195 3. The machine may be described as a keyset, electric motordriven, full keyboard machine with a traveling paper carriage and both manual and automatic control of machine functions. The area of the bookkeeping machine most closely related to the present invention is a supporting means or paper carriage which is of the front feed type. The carriage supports a platen which is movable from its printing position to a retracted or front feed position and reversely. The opening and closing of the carriage, that is, the movements of the platen from front feed to printing positions are effected by power derived from the bookkeeping machine drive motor. The control of the opening and closing of the carriage can be effected automatically during machine operation as well as manually.

FIG. 1 shows a right side view of the movable carriage 12, which is laterally displaceable along a front rail 14 and a rear rail 16. Rolling support for the carriage is afforded by two lines of roller bearings 18 seated in opposing V-shaped grooves in front rail 14 and the carriage race rail 20 and rear rail 16 and carriage race rail 22, respectively.

The carriage 112 'has a spaced pair of lower side frames 24, one of which is shown, and a spaced pair of upper side frames 26 pivot-ally mounted about their rearward loWer corners on a stud 28 fixed to each of the side frames 24. Right hand side frame 26 terminates at its forward lower corner in a downwardly extending forked projection 27. A latch is provided for holding the side frame 26 in a secured position which includes a stud 30 mounted on stationary side frame 24 and a lever 32 pivotally mounted on stud 34 on side frame 26. A lateral extension 36 on the lower end of lever .32 is engageable with stud 30 to hold the pivotal side frame 26 in a locked position.

The guideway for feeding of a record is mounted on the carriage 12 and indicated generally 'by the numeral 38. The guideway includes a pair of oppositely disposed spaced apart guide members preferably having laterally spaced side members 40. A pair of lock nuts 46, one of which is shown, are utilized to lock the side members 40 of the guideway in various laterally spaced positions across the top of the carriage to accommodate record sheets of varying widths as will be seen more clearly in connection with FIG. 2 hereinafter. The upper portion of a pivotable lever 48 associated with the guideway is shown and its function and operation will be shown and explained in connection with FIG. 3. Mounted on the outside surface of side frame 26 on a manually rotatable shaft 68 is a plate 70. Plate 70 has formed therein three arcuate slots 72 engaging three studs 74 on plate 26. An on-off switch 76, which is diagrammatically shown hereinafter in FIG. 8 is mounted on the outside of said frame 26 and the plunger 76a therefor is shown. Clockwise rotation of shaft 68 will pivot switch actuating lever 78 to engage the plunger 76a with lug 80 and enable the operation of the front feed apparatus. Stud 86 is mounted on side frame 26 and forms the pivot point for a rockable frame 88. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a portion of the drive mechanism for a sheet feed means or drive roll 94 which mechanism includes toothed belt 96, idler pulleys 98 and 100 and driving pulley 102 carried by drive shaft 104. It should be noted that in FIG. 1 the front feed apparatus is maintained in the condition of feeding a sheet into the carriage with the carriage in an open position as explained below.

The lower portion of the drawing in FIG. 1 shows mechanism associated with the opening and closing of the carriage and is extensively similar to the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned Butler patent in FIGS. 102 and 103 thereof. The basic parts of the carriage operating mechanism include a movable record feeding platen 106 mounted on shaft 108 extending transversely across the machine between side plates 26 and movable rearwardly and forwardly in the machine to open the carriage to permit insertion or removal of a sheet or to secure the sheet in a print position. When the platen 106 is moved forwardly to its closed position, it limits against pressure roll 110 which is maintained rotatively in a fixed position in the machine. The level of the print position is indicated by the upper printing element 111a on type bar 111 shown in a raised or active position. A resilient form guide member 112 is mounted interior of side frame 24 and serves to guide an entering record in a path around the periphery of platen 106 and toward the lower end portion 114 of the record guideway. Mounted inside and at the end of the guideway end portion 114 is a lower limit switch 116 and the actuating arm therefor. Rearward movement of slide 118, shown in part, which corresponds to slide 1638 of the Butler patent as shown in FIG. 102 thereof, initiates the closing of the carriage and the forward movement of platen 106. Bail 120 which corresponds to bail 1096 of the Butler patent is carried at the forward end of lever 122 and is moved rearwardly between upstanding lugs 124 on slide 118. The rearward end of lever 122 has a slot 126 which engages a stud 128 mounted on a lever 130. As shown in the drawing, lever 130 is pivotally mounted on the outer surface of side frame 24. Thus as lever 122 is rocked about its center, the action of slot 126 on stud 128 will rock lever 130 in a clockwise direction. A switch actuating member 132 is coupled by a pin and slot connection indicated by numerals 134 and 136 to the upper end of lever 130. Switch actuating member 132 further has two projections 138 and 140, is pivotally mounted on stud 142 on side frame 26 and biased counterclockwise by spring 144. Fixed to the outside of side frame 26 are carriage open control means or switch 146 and carriage closed control means or switch 148, which are adapted to be actuated by member 132 according to the open or closed position of the carriage.

Also mounted on the outside of side frame 26 is a spacing switch 150 operable to be actuated during the line spacing operation of the bookkeeping machine in a manner best shown in FIG. 103 of the Butler patent and explained in connection therewith. A line spacing bail 152 which corresponds to bail 1247 of the Butler patent is moved rearwardly in the machine and each line space operation whereby the lever 154 coupled thereto and carrying a stud 155 at its upper end is rocked counterclockwise about stud 156 on side frame 24. A switch actuator 158 is mounted pivotally on stud 160 on side frame 26 and biased in a generally upward position by spring 162. The counterclockwise rotation of lever 154 strikes the lower arm of switch actuator 158, rocking it clockwise against the tension of spring 162. On the return clockwise movement of lever 154 and at the completion of the spacing operation, the stud 155 of lever 154 drives lever 158 counterclockwise to actuate spacing switch 150.

FIG. 1A shows a portion of side frame 26 broken away to best illustrate the manner in which platen 186 on shaft 108 is moved between an open or ineffective position and closed or effective position. The frame 88, which is an integral part of the structure of the guideway 38, is normally pivotable in a clockwise direction about stud 86. The rearward portion of frame 88 has a compressible arm 164 depending therefrom. Arm 164 comprises a lower member 16412 and an upper member 164a slidably mounted thereon. A compression spring 165 is mounted between a stud 166 on upper member 164a and a stud 168 on lower member 164b. A roller 170 is mounted on the end of arm 164 and in yieldable engagement with the upper cam outline of an actuator or cam plate 172. It should be noted that platen shaft 108 is carried by cam plate 172 and by a like cam at the other side of the machine. The cam plate 172 is rockably mounted on transverse shaft 174 which extends between said frames 26 and is rocked in a counterclockwise direction during each carriage closing and opening cycle of operation of the bookkeeping machine. Cam plate 172 which is connected to lever 130 by a linkage not shown is moved by lever 130 counterclockwise with the closure of the carriage. Thus, roller 170 of arm 164 drops to the lower cam surface of cam plate 172 whereby frame 88 is permitted to rock in a clockwise direction. The rocking motion of frame 88 is utilized to interrupt the drive of the front feed apparatus in a manner which will be explained in connection with FIG. 3 hereinafter.

FIG. 2 shows the drive mechanism associated with the front feed apparatus and includes as its main components an electrical motor 176, an intermediate gear train, a clutch 178 and a brake solenoid 180, all of which are mounted on the carriage 12. It is the function of the brake solenoid 180 to interrupt the drive to the drive roll 94 of the front feed mechanism when a perforation is sensed in the record fed to locate the record in the pro-per position for the next operation of the bookkeeping machine. Motor 176 has a drive shaft 182 which carries a pinion gear 184 and is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Gear 184 meshes with gear 186 mounted on shaft 188 to drive the shaft in a clockwise direction. Also mounted on shaft 188 is a gear 190 which is meshed with a gear 192, rotatably mounted on drive shaft 104 previously mentioned herein. Clutch 178 is of a type well known in the art and has two interengageable members 178a and 178k. Clutch member 178a is of a male type configuration and is affixed to gear 192 to rotate therewith. Driven clutch member 17811 is of a female type configuration, is coupled to rotate with shaft 104, and is slidably movable on shaft 104 into or away from engagement with member 178a to selectively couple or uncouple the drive of motor 17 6 to shaft 104. During the operation of the front feed apparatus, the drive is normally applied through clutch members 178a, 1781) to drive the sheet feed roll 94 until sensing of a perforation occurs or the trailing edge of an unpunched record has passed the sensing member. Responsive to either of these conditions the drive will be interrupted or inhibited by the activation of brake solenoid 180. Brake solenoid 180'is a plunger type solenoid. Clutch actuating arm 193 is coupled at one end to clutch member 17817, is coupled near its center to the plunger of the solenoid 180 and is pivotably retained about its end portion 194 by a bracket plate 196. Energization of solenoid 180 causes the rightward movement of its plunger to pivot clutch actuating arm 193 and withdraw clutch member 17812 from engagement with clutch member 178a to interrupt the normal drive to shaft 104 and effectively stop the record.

FIG. 2 also shows additional detail of the guideway 38 comprising a pair of inclined front plates 42, each mounted on its respective side member 40, and a rear plate 44 which is in a vertically upstanding position.

FIG. 2A illustrates the manner in which the manual rotation of shaft 68 and of plate 70 mounted thereon enables the front feed apparatus for operation. Stud 77 is fastened to platee 70 by screw fastener 82 as shown in FIG. 1. Stud 77 extends laterally from plate 70 to engage the underside of actuating level 78. Actuating lever 78 carries actuating lug 80 and is pivotally mounted on the outer surface of side frame 26. Thus, the clockwise rotation of shaft 68 engages the plunger 76a of switch -76 with actuating lug 80.

FIG. 3 is a view of the front feed apparatus with a portion of upper side frame 26 removed to better illustrate the organization of the components of the sensing mechanism. A switch operator or lever 48 is pivotally mounted on side frame 26 on stud 50 and has a retr actable feed or idler roll 52 mounted on its downwardly extending arm 54 to form a part of the drive means for the front feed apparatus. Arm 54 of lever 48 further has a two armed lever 56 pivotally mounted thereon at stud 58. DoWnwa-rdly extending operator or arm 60 of lever 56 has a rearwardly bent lower end portion below roll 52 which is normally in the path of a record passing through the guideway such that roll 52 is anterior to said end portion with respect to the direction of sheet feed. Rearwardly extending arm 62 of lever 56 is bent laterally outside the downward path of the document and has a laterally extending lug 64 engaging switch plunger 66a, the lever 48 thus being the operator for a control means or control member or switch 66. It is the function of the switch 66 to activate the perforation sensing mechanism responsive to the actuation of lever arm 60 by sheet within the guideway. Numeral 1-98 designates a control means herein embodied as sensing switch 198. It is the function of switch 198 to energize brake solenoid 180 and stop the sheet drive mechanism responsive to the sensing of a perforation in the record. Sensing solenoid 202 is pivotally mounted on plate 200. Mounted on solenoid 202 and pivotally movable therewith is a switch actuating member 204 with a downward extending abutment 206 normally opposed to the plunger 198a of switch 198. The switch 198 is biased toward closed position, but is normally held in open position by reason of plunger 198a being held depressed against abutment 206. The counterclockwise movement of sensing solenoid 202 about its pivotal mounting is effective to release the plunger 198a as the abutment 206 moves away from mounting plate 200 with the result that the switch is allowed to close. The forward end of an operator or sensing member 208 in the form of an arm is shown projecting into the guideway 38 and is provided to operate switch 198. The drive mechanism is shown with idler roll 52 in engagement with drive roll -94. Also shown is a biasing spring 210 which is effective to yieldingly bias the lever arm 54 of lever 48 countreclockwise so the idler roll 52 is maintained with a force toward drive roll 94 so that a record therebetween is hold in frictional driving engagement to propel it downwardly in the guideway 38. FIG. 3 also shows the manner in which the control of the front feed apparatus over the document is relinquished contemporaneously with the closure of the carriage. The clockwise rocking of frame 88 as explained in connection with FIG. 1A causes the downward depending member 92 to engage lower arm 54 of lever 48 to disengage idler roll 52 from drive roll 94.

FIG. 4 shows the detail of the solenoid 202 and the sensing mechanism associated therewith. The solenoid 202 is pivotally mounted near its forward end on stud 210 fixed to plate 200. The working core or plunger 212 is movable leftwardly in the energized state of the solenoid 202. A compression spring 214 is provided to return the plunger to a right hand position in its unenergized condition. A sensing member 208 is mounted along and slidably movable through and along the axis of plunger 212. A second compression spring 216 is anchor ed at its forward end to a shoulder portion of plunger 212 and at its rearward end to member 208. The action of spring 216 is to provide a biasing force between the plunger 212 and sensing member 208 whereby the latter is urged with a constant but yieldable force against the broadside of a record in the energized state of solenoid 202.

Sensing member 208 is preferably formed of a material of a magnetically impermeable type so as to avo1d a magnetic interaction between it and the winding 217 of the solenoid 202. The forward end of sensing member 208 has a cam portion 218. An abutment 220 is fixed to an extension of plate 200 in the path of travel of cam portion 218. As is apparent from the drawing, the movement of sensing member 208 leftwardly beyond a predetermined point will result in engagement of its cam portion 218 with abutment 220 to pivot the solenoid in a counterclockwise direction to release the plunger 198a of sensing switch 198 so as to allow the biased switch to close. Thus, the perforation sensing member 208 has been given the added function of sensing the passage of the trailing edge of a record.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 4. Lug 64 carried by arm 62 of lever 56 is shown in its cooperative abutment with plunger 66a of form switch 66 in a position preparatory to the actuation of solenoid 202. The device of FIG. 5 has a solenoid 202 pivotally mounted and rockably responsive to engagement of the forward end of sensing member or arm 208 with an edge of a perforation in a record. Thus, in operation, the upper edge of a sheet perforation engages and pivots arm 208 in the same manner as the device of FIG. 4 to actuate sensing switch 198 to energize brake solenoid to interrupt the drive to the front feed apparatus. It is with respect to the function of sensing the trailing edge of an unmarked record that the structure of the sensing mechanism has been changed. A switch mechanism is incorporated to function responsive to the longitudinal movement of sensing member 208 beyond a predetermined extent. For this purpose a fixed contact 222 is mounted on a bracket 224 proximate the rearward end of the solenoid 202. Contact 222 has the configuration of a forked member extending downward and on either side of the rear end of sensing member 208. Carried on sensing member 208 is a movable contact 226 movable forward into engagement with fixed contact 222 and operable to complete a circuit to energize brake solenoid 180 to inhibit the drive mechanism for the front feed apparatus. FIG. 5 also illustrates the position of the sensing member 268 relative to a record print like marker element or a perforator or punch 228. It will be appreciated that an exaggerated scale is used in this figure. The record sheet is .inserted bottom first in guideway 33. Therefore sensing member 208 serves to engage the perforation aligned with the last line previously printed. When the sheet is arrested in position and the carriage is closed, the activation of the punch 228 serves to perforate the record sheet on the line of the next line to be printed during operation of the bookkeeping machine.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the actuating mechanism for the punch. The punch is located adjacent to the guideway at a point spaced below the sensing member 208. The punch element 228 has a V-shaped cutting edge with a relief formed proximate the point. This configuration permits the cutting of a line marking perforation preferably slit or incision 231, FIGS. 12 and 13, which is somewhat spread open to readily admit entry of the forward end of the sensing member 288 in a subsequent sensing operation. Forward movement of the punch into the guideway is achieved by actuation of the punching solenoid 230. Coupled to the rearward end of the plunger 232 is a plate 233 having a plurality of elongated guide slots 234 for longitudinal movement thereof. An inclined slot 236 engages a stud 238 mounted on the rearward end of punch slot 236 on stud 238 drives the punch 228 forwardly into slot 236 on stud 238 drive the punch 228 forwardly into the guideway to achieve a punch operation. A return spring 237 is provided to retract the punch subsequent to the de-energization of punching solenoid 230.

FIG. 8 shows the electrical control system for the front feed apparatus. In the circuit diagram the various relay switches are not always shown as being physically grouped adjacent to the associated relay coil although in practice they are so located for common actuation by an armature in a manner well known in the art. An A.C. power supply is utilized to operate the bookkeeping machine and the front feed drive motor 176. A diode rectifier 240 is used to provide a 115 volt DC. power supply for the various relays and solenoids employed in the circuit except for the heavy duty punching solenoid 230 and brake solenoid 180 which are furnished with 150 volt D.C. Closure of on-off switch 76 by the rotation of shaft 68 conditions the front feed control circuit for operation and starts drive motor 176. Following the entry of a record into the guideway, the leading edge of the sheet pivots arm 69 which closes form switch 66 to energize sensing solenoid 202 and move the end of sensing member 208 into engagement with the form as it is being driven into the guideway. Thus, it will be seen that arm 60 directly controls switch 66 without need of timed driving mechanism between the sheet feed drive and the switch. During the sensing operation, it is necessary to inhibit the power to the bookkeeping machine so that the motor relay 242 opens its contacts 242a in the line to the bookkeeping machine when and by the closing of switch 66. When a perforation is sensed, sensing switch 198 is closed and brake solenoid 1549 is energized to stop the drive to motor 176 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. With sensing switch 198 closed, current flows through the switch to energize relay 244 and brake solenoid 189. It is the purpose of relay 244 to indicate that a sensing of a perforation has occurred. Contacts 244b interrupt the current to motor relay 242 to close contacts 242a in the line to the bookkeeping machine. Contacts 2440 open the line to sensing solenoid 202 because the sensing operation is completed and the sensing member is retracted from the guideway. Contacts 244d are closed to hold relay 244 energized so long as the form switch 66 remains closed and the record remains in the machine. Contacts 244e close preparatory to completing a circuit to motor relay 246. Contacts 244 and 244g are provided which are closed and opened in that order to transfer the current through resistor to reduce the current through solenoid 180. If the lower limit switch 116 is employed in the system, the operation is the same as outlined above with reference to the action of relay 244. Since the lower limit switch 116 will be closed when the bottom leading edge of the record strikes it, the normally closed contact 244a is in its line to interrupt current through switch 116 after sensing is completed.

With the sensing operation complete, the bookkeeping carriage is closed to retain the sheet in its properly located position. Operation of the carriage open and close mechanism operates carriage open switch 146 and the carriage close switch 148 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Switch 146 makes contact as soon as the carriage begins to close, but switch 148 does not make contact until the closing of the carriage is completed. Switch member 148, FIG. 8, is an electrically operable settable switch member which controls operation of the punch 228 in response to operation of the platen operable means, or specifically, the switch member 143 is settable in effective position by the platen operable means. When switch 146 is closed, current flows to motor relay 246 to open its contacts 246a and interrupt the power supply to motor 176 which is no longer required. Contacts 24652 are closed and motor relay 242 holds motor 176 shut off until relay 244 drops out to open contacts 2442. With the carriage completely closed, the punching sequence must be initiated. Current passes through the carriage close switch 148 and the spacing switch 150 and 25612 to energize relay 254. When relay 254 is energized, its contacts 254a are closed preparatory to energizing relay 256. When the carriage closes, switch 143 is transferred and when relay 256 is energized through 254a and 25412, its contacts 256a will be closed and the punching solenoid 8 230 will operate the punch 228 in the manner shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

It is necessary to return the punch by de-energizing solenoid 230. This is accomplished by providing a contact 256b of relay 256 in the line to the relay 254. Thus, when the punch is made after energization of relay 256, the relay 254 is dropped out at the same time by opening of 2561). The 254a contact in the 256 line drops out and current is interrupted to solenoid 230 by opening of contacts 256a. The relay 254 is energized first, the relay 256 is energized as soon as the carriage closes, relay 256 then de-energizes relay 254 which then de-energizes 256, in that order and both are then de-energized. Thus, the control or switch member 256a is responsive to or is operable by the operation of the platen operable means and, with the switch member 148, mutually controls operation of the punch 228, the switch member 256a functioning to render the switch member 148 ineffective until the platen again resets the switch member 148.

It is also necessary to provide for a punch operation at the end of each spacing operation. This is provided by the transfer of the spacing switch in the manner indicated in connection with FIG. 1. It should be noted that spacing is done always in a closed carriage situation so that carriage close switch 148 remains transferred to its dash line position. Transfer of spacing switch 150 energizes relay 254 and the spacing switch is then returned to the position indicated in the schematic to permit a punching operation in the manner hereinabove described. When the movable contact of switch 150 is transferred upwardly, the punching operation is set up and when it returns to normal, a punch is made so that the spacing operation is completed before the punch is actuated.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as incorporated in a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, and various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bookkeeping machine, means defining a path of travel for a record sheet, a platen mounted along said path of travel, said platen normally in an open position to receive a record sheet and movable to a closed printing position, means operable to move said platen to closed position, a normally operating sheet feed means to feed a record sheet along said path of travel and including a driving roll and a pressure roll bodily movable from engagement with the driving roll to release a sheet, first control means operatively connected to said feed means, said first control means operable to stop said feed means, a control means operator operatively connected to said first control means, said operator normally retracted and movable to an effective position for engagement and actuation by an edge of a perforation in a sheet fed along the path of travel, said operator positioned anteriorly to said platen with respect to the direction of sheet travel and pivotable by an edge of a sheet perforation to activate said first control means, a second control means to control movement of said control means operator to effective position, a second operator controlling said second control means, a perforator mounted along said path of sheet travel posteriorly to said control means operator and operable under the control of said platen closing means for marking the next line print on a sheet, and means operated by said platen closing means and operable to displace said pressure roll from said driving roll of said feed means.

2. Front feed apparatus for a bookkeeping machine having a normally open carriage and means for closing the carriage comprising, a guideway mounted on the carriage, a normally operating drive means for moving a record therethrough into the carriage including a fixed drive roll and an idler roll movable from engagement 9 therewith, a control means for inhibiting said drive means responsive to a perforation in the record indicative of a last line print, a punch mounted on the carriage and controlled by the carriage closing means for marking the next line print on the record, and means operated by the carriage closing means operable to displace said idler roll from said drive roll of said drive means.

3. Front feed apparatus for a bookkeeping machine having a normally open carriage and means for closing the carriage comprising, a stationary guide plate and a movable guide plate defining a guide slot for a record sheet, a normally operable sheet feed roll for moving a record therethrough into the carriage, an idler roll pivotally mounted on said stationary guide plate and normally engaging said feed roll, an electrical control means operable to inhibit said feed roll responsive to a perforation in the record, said movable guide plate operable to displace said idler roll from said feed roll responsive to the operation of the carriage closing means.

4. Front feed apparatus for a bookkeeping machine having a normally open carriage and means for closing the carriage comprising, a guideway including a rockable frame mounted on the carriage, normally operated feed means for moving a record therethrough into the carriage including a fixed drive roll and an idler roll movable from engagement therewith, control means for inhibiting said feed means responsive to a perforation in the record indicative of a last line print, a punch mounted on the carriage for marking the next line print on the record activatable responsive to the operation of the carriage closing means, and cam means operable by the carriage closing means effective to rock said frame to displace said idler roll from said drive roll.

5. Front feed apparatus for a bookkeeping machine having a normally open carriage and means for closing the carriage comprising, a guideway having a rock-able fame mounted on the carriage, normally operated feed means for moving a record therethrough into the carriage including a fixed drive roll and an idler roll movable from engagement therewith, control means including the working core of a solenoid pivotally mounted on said guideway for inhibiting said feed means responsive to a perforation in the record indicative of a last line print, a punch mounted intermediate said control means and said feed means for marking the next line print, and cam means operable by the carriage closing means effective to rock said frame to displace said idler roll from said drive roll of said feed means.

6. Front feed apparatus for a bookkeeping machine having a normally open carriage and means for closing the carriage comprising, a guideway having a rockable fame mounted on the carriage, normally operated feed means for moving a record therethrough into the carriage including a fixed drive roll and an idler roll movable from engagement therewith, an electrical control means including the working core of a solenoid pivotally mounted on said guideway and a member coupled to and movable through said core, said member being responsive to a perforation in the record indicative of a last line print, a punch mounted intermediate said control means and said feed means for marking the next line print on the record, and means operable by the carriage closing means effective to rock said frame to displace said idler roll from said feed roll of said drive means.

7. Front feed apparatus for a bookkeeping machine having a normally open carriage and means for closing the carriage comprising, a guideway having a rockable frame and mounted on the carriage, normally operated feed means for moving a record therethrough into the carriage including a fixed drive roll and an idler roll movable from engagement therewith, control means including a member yieldingly biased into said guideway in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the record and responsive to a perforation in the record indicative of a last line print, a punch mounted intermediate 10 said control means and said feed means for marking the next line print on the record activatable responsive to the operation of the carriage closing means, and cam means operable by the carriage closing means effective to rock said frame .to displace said idler roll from said drive roll of said feed means.

8. Front feed apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said punch has a V-shaped cutting edge with a relief angle for punching out an open slot.

9. In a bookkeeping machine, a supporting means, a record guideway supported by said supporting means, a movable record feeding platen positioned along said guideway, said platen normally retracted to an ineffective position and movable to a record holding position, means operable to move said platen to the record holding position, a pair of cooperating feed rollers having a record receiving bight within said guideway, said feed rollers being normally driven to feed a record along said guideway, one of said feed rollers displaceable from the other to release a record, means operable to stop said feed rollers, a control member responsive to the presence of a last print line mark on a record at a predetermined point along said guideway and operatively connected to activate said stop means, a record marking element operated by said platen moving means to mark the next line of print on the record, and means operable to displace said one roller and operated by said platen moving means on movement of said platen to the record holding position thereof.

10. In a bookkeeping machine, a platen movable between printing and retracted positions and normally in the latter position to receive a record sheet, supporting means, a sheet guideway mounted on said supporting means in position to guide a sheet to said platen, normally operating sheet feed means operable to feed a record sheet to said platen, said sheet having a line marking incision representative of the next available unused line on the sheet, a brake operating member operatively connected to said sheet feed means, said brake operating member operable to effect an arresting of said feed means, said brake operating member having a normally retracted position without said guideway and movable to an effective position within said guideway for actuation by an edge of said line marking incision, means operatively connected to said operating member to effect movement thereof to the effective position in response to the leading edge of a record sheet enroute to said platen, means operable to move said platen to its effective position, and means responsive to movement of said platen to effective position to effect retraction of said brake operating member.

11. In a bookkeeping machine, a platen movable between sheet holding and release positions and normally in the latter position preparatory to receiving a record sheet, supporting means, sheet guideway means positioned to guide a record sheet to said platen, normally cooperating sheet feed rollers projecting into said guideway and normally driven to feed a sheet to said platen, said rollers separable to release a sheet to said platen, said sheet having a line marking incision representative of the next avail able unused line on the sheet, a brake operating member operatively connected to said sheet feed rollers and operable to stop the feeding thereof, said brake operating member having a normally retracted position Without said guideway and movable to an effective position within said guideway for actuation by an edge of said line representative incision of a passing sheet, means operatively connected to said operating member to effect movement thereof to the effective position and operable in response to the leading edge of a sheet enroute to said platen, and means operable to move said platen to sheet holding position and also to effect separation of said rollers and retraction of said brake operating member.

12. In a bookkeeping machine, a supporting means, a record guideway supported by said supporting means, a movable record feeding platen positioned along said guideway, said platen normally retracted to an ineffective position and movable to a record holding position, means operable to move said platen to the effective position, a pair of cooperating feed rollers having a record receiving bight within said guideway, said feed rollers normally driven to feed a record along said guideway, one of said feed rollers displaceable from the other to release a record, means operable to stop said feed rollers, a control member responsive to the presence of a last print line mark on a record at a predetermined point along said guideway and operatively connected to activate said stop means, a record marking element operated by said platen moving means to mark the next line of print on the record, and means operable to displace said one roller and operated by said platen moving means on movement of said platen to the effective position thereof.

13. In a cyclically operable bookkeeping machine, a supporting means, a record sheet guideway supported by said supporting means, a platen-positioned along said guideway, said platen movable from a retracted record sheet receiving position to a record sheet printing position, means operable to move said platen from one of said positions to the other, a marker operable to mark a sheet in the platen printing position as an indication of a last line of printing on the sheet, and a control member operatively connected to said marker to control operation thereof and responsive to operation of said platen moving means.

14. In a cyclically operable bookkeeping machine, a supporting means, a record sheet guideway supported by said supporting means, a platen positioned along said guideway, said platen movable from a retracted record sheet receiving position to a record sheet printing position, means operable to move said platen from one of said positions to the other, an electrically operated marker operable to mark a sheet in the printing position as an indication of a last line of printing on the sheet, and a switch member operatively connected to said marker to control operation of the latter and settable in effective position by said platen operable means.

15. In a cyclically operable bookkeeping machine, a supporting means, a record sheet guideway supported by said supporting means, a platen positioned along said guideway, said platen movable from a rectracted record sheet receiving position to a record sheet printing position, means operable to move said platen from one of said positions to the other, an electrically operated marker operable to mark a sheet in the printing position as an indication of a last line of printing on the sheet, a switch member operatively connected to said marker to control operation of the latter and settable in eifective position by said platen operable means, and a control member operable by said platen operable means on movement of said platen to printing position and operatively connected to said switch member to render the latter ineffective until said platen is retracted by said platen operable means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,116 3/38 Holzapfel 197-127 2,670,068 2/54 Rutishauser et al 197-127 2,774,457 12/56 Salzberger 197-127 2,832,454 4/58 Martin 197-127 2,916,129 12/59 Parker 197-128 2,952,349 9/60 Nessel et al. 197-127 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,080,125 4/60 Germany.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BOOKKEEPING MACHINE, MEANS DEFINING A PATH OF TRAVEL FOR A RECORD SHEET, A PLATEN MOUNTED ALONG SAID PATH OF TRAVEL, SAID PLATEN NORMALLY IN AN OPEN POSITION TO RECEIVE A RECORD SHEET AND MOVABLE TO A CLOSED PRINTING POSITION, MEANS OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID PLATEN TO CLOSED POSITION, A NORMALLY OPERATING SHEET FEED MEANS TO FEED A RECORD SHEET ALONG SAID PATH OF TRAVEL AND INCLUDING A DRIVING ROLL AND A PRESSURE ROLL BODILY MOVABLE FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DRIVING ROLL TO RELEASE A SHEET, FIRST CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FEED MEANS, SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE TO STOP SAID FEED MEANS, A CONTROL MEANS OPERATOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS, SAID OPERATOR NORMALLY RETRACTED AND MOVABLE TO AN EFFECTIVE POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT AND ACTUATION BY AN EDGE OF A PERFORATION IN A SHEET FED ALONG THE PATH OF TRAVEL, SAID OPERATOR POSITIONED ANTERIORLY TO SAID PLATEN WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF SHEET TRAVEL AND PIVOTABLE BY AN EDGE OF A SHEET PERFORATION TO ACTIVATE SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS, A SECOND CONTROL MEANS TO CONTROL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEANS OPERATOR TO EFFECTIVE POSITION, A SECOND OPERATOR CONTROLLING SAID SECOND CONTROL MEANS, A PERFORATOR MOUNTED ALONG SAID PATH OF SHEET TRAVEL POSTERIORLY TO SAID CONTROL MEANS OPERATOR AND OPERABLE UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID PLATEN CLOSING MEANS FOR MARKING THE NEXT LINE PRINT ON THE SHEET, AND MEANS OPERATED BY SAID PLATEN CLOSING MEANS AND OPERABLY TO DISPLACE SAID PRESSURE ROLL FROM SAID DRIVING ROLL OF SAID FEED MEANS. 